Brussels, 06/02/2006 (Agence Europe) - Faced with the outbreak of protests against caricatures of the prophet Mohamed in the European press, violence, culminating in the attacks at the weekend against EU offices in Palestinian territories and the setting fire to the Danish, Swedish and Norwegian embassies in Damascus and Beirut, the Austrian presidency indicated to the main countries affected that international law (Vienna Convention of 1969 on treaties law) obliges them to protect embassies and diplomatic representations on their territory. Speaking on behalf of the EU, the Austrian minister of foreign affairs, Ursula Plassnik, addressed this message to Egypt, Algeria, Ethiopia, Iran, Jordan, Indonesia, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Morocco, Oman, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates and the Palestinian Authority. The Austrian presidency also protested to the authorities in Damascus, Beirut and Ramallah against the ransacking of the embassies and a representative from the Organisation of Islamic countries was called to the Austrian foreign affairs ministry in Vienna to express the EU's demands to him with regard to the protection of European citizens and diplomatic representations.
On Saturday, the presidency had already published a declaration in which it strongly condemned the attacks against European property and representations, “Such acts can by no means be legitimised and are utterly unacceptable”, affirmed the presidency which also called on the competent authorities in the countries in question to take “suitable measures to guarantee the security of European citizens and property”. All parties have been called on to “show restraint and to refrain from and prevent further violence”.
On Monday, with massive protests continuing in a number of countries (with deaths in Afghanistan) and that Iran announced the suspension of trade with Denmark, the European Commission called for a return to calm. On Monday its spokesperson, Joannnes Laitenberger appealed for a “return to peaceful debate”. He also stated that “the Commission is aware of the fact that the caricatures have offended many Muslims across the world, but no sentiment of injustice, real or perceived as such, does not justify acts of violence, such as those perpetrated this weekend. He also underlined that “a large majority of Muslims, while maintaining their criticism, have distanced themselves” from the violence.